Can the Abortion Pill Fail? What You Should Know

The abortion pill does not work in every case. If you’ve taken abortion drugs and believe you may still be pregnant, don’t try to determine what’s going on based on symptoms alone. Contact your healthcare provider for medical evaluation and guidance.

If you’re still considering abortion and haven’t taken the drugs, Care Net Pregnancy Center of Paradise can provide pregnancy services and information before you make a decision. Schedule a free appointment today to speak with our team. And read on to learn more about how the abortion pill can fail.

An Ongoing Pregnancy Is Possible

Medical abortion typically uses mifepristone followed by misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, while misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy.

One possible risk is an ongoing pregnancy if the procedure does not work.

Gestational age is an important consideration. The FDA has approved the abortion pill through 10 weeks of gestation. The further a pregnancy has progressed, the less effective the drugs may be.

Not knowing exactly how far along you are before taking the abortion drugs can therefore be a concern. Estimating gestational age based only on your last menstrual period may not always be accurate.

Other Reasons the Drugs May Not Work

How the drugs are taken also matters. Taking an incorrect dosage or not following the prescribed regimen may affect whether the abortion is completed.

An incomplete abortion is different from an ongoing pregnancy. With an incomplete abortion, the pregnancy has ended, but the pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus. This can also require additional medical treatment.

Neither situation should be diagnosed on your own.

Contact Your Healthcare Provider

If you’ve taken the abortion pill and believe the drugs may not have worked, your healthcare provider should be your first call. They can evaluate your symptoms and determine what medical follow-up is appropriate. An ultrasound may be used to determine whether the pregnancy is still developing or whether further treatment is needed.

Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing severe pain, very heavy bleeding, fainting, or other symptoms that concern you.

How Care Net Can Help

Care Net Pregnancy Center of Paradise offers limited obstetrical ultrasounds performed by a nurse. If you have not taken abortion drugs and are gathering information about your pregnancy, our team can help you learn important pregnancy details.

If you have already taken the abortion pill and are concerned that it failed, contact your healthcare provider first. We can also help connect you with appropriate resources when needed.

Schedule a free appointment with Care Net Pregnancy Center of Paradise today if you’re considering your pregnancy options and would like additional information and support.

*Care Net Pregnancy Center of Paradise does not provide or refer for abortions.

**All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.